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Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a commonly used technique for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. In this study, we developed a fully computer-supported pipeline to predict both the cage height and the degree of lumbar lordosis subtraction from the pelvic incidence (PI-LL) after TLIF surgery, utilizing preoperative X-ray images. The automated pipeline comprised two primary stages. First, the pretrained BiLuNet deep learning model was employed to extract essential features from X-ray images. Subsequently, five machine learning algorithms were trained using a five-fold cross-validation technique on a dataset of 311 patients to identify the optimal models to predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL. LASSO regression and support vector regression demonstrated superior performance in predicting interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL, respectively. For cage height prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated as 1.01, and the model achieved the highest accuracy at a height of 12 mm, with exact prediction achieved in 54.43% (43/79) of cases. In most of the remaining cases, the prediction error of the model was within 1 mm. Additionally, the model demonstrated satisfactory performance in predicting PI-LL, with an RMSE of 5.19 and an accuracy of 0.81 for PI-LL stratification. In conclusion, our results indicate that machine learning models can reliably predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL.
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STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors contributing to the development of postoperative distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) at or above L1. METHODS: Patients with Lenke type 1 or 2 curves who underwent PSF with LIV at or above L1 with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were evaluated. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of postoperative DJK. Radiographic parameters of sagittal alignment and inclusion/exclusion of sagittal stable vertebra (SSV) in PSF were analyzed to determine their associations with the occurrence of postoperative DJK. RESULTS: Overall, 122 patients (mean age: 15.1 ± 3.2 years) were included. The overall incidence of postoperative DJK was 6.6%. DJK was observed in 19.0% (8/42) of patients whose SSV was not included in PSF and not in patients with SSV included in PSF (n = 80). In the SSV-excluded group, univariate analysis found two significant risk factors for DJK: postoperative thoracic kyphosis (TK, T5-12) and postoperative thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK, T11-L2). The ROC curve revealed that postoperative TK ≥ 25° and TLK ≥ 10° best predicted the occurrence of postoperative DJK in the SSV-excluded group. The incidence was significantly higher in cases with postoperative TK ≥ 25° or TLK ≥ 10° (7/13 = 53.8%) than in those with postoperative TK < 25° and TLK < 10° (1/29 = 3.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed that postoperative TK ≥ 25° or postoperative TLK ≥ 10° with SSV excluded from PSF were related to DJK after PSF for Lenke type 1 and type 2 AIS. When the SSV is intended to be spared from PSF to save more motion segments, TK and TLK should be carefully evaluated and attained in a lesser magnitude (TK < 25°, TLK < 10°) after surgery.
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STUDY DESIGN: Basic research. OBJECTIVES: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a critical pro-fibrotic mediator. This study aims to characterize the role of SPARC in hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) and fibrosis. METHODS: Hypertrophic LF samples were obtained from 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) during the decompressive laminectomy. Non-hypertrophic LF from age- and sex-matched 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar disc herniation was selected as control. An in vitro model of fibrosis in human LF cells was established by interleukin 6 (IL-6) to assess SPARC expression. RESULTS: Hypertrophic LF samples had higher fibrosis scores than control samples by Masson's trichrome staining (3.6 vs. 1.3, P < .001). Hypertrophic LF samples had significantly more positive staining for collagen and SPARC. Collagen III (Col3), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and SPARC mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in hypertrophic LF samples than in control samples by qPCR. SPARC expression and fibrotic and inflammatory makers (collagen I, Col3, IL-6, interleukin 1ß) were significantly upregulated in IL-6 stimulation of normal LF in vitro. CONCLUSION: SPARC was detected in human LF and significantly upregulated in the clinical samples of hypertrophic LF compared to their normal counterparts. We also demonstrated an increased level of SPARC in an in vitro fibrosis model of LF. Thus, SPARC could be a crucial biomarker for the pathogenesis of hypertrophic LF and a therapeutic target for LSS.
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STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To determine radiographic parameters, including the lowest instrumented vertebral (LIV) tilt, related to the postoperative magnitude and progression of residual lumbar curves (LCs) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion with LIV at or above L1. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although several guidelines have been proposed for thoracic curve fusion, factors related to the postoperative magnitude and potential progression of unfused LCs remained undetermined. The effect of the LIV tilt on residual LCs is also unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with Lenke type 1 to 4 curves who underwent posterior spinal fusion with LIV at or above L1 with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years were evaluated. Prediction models for residual LCs were developed using multivariate linear regressions with selected radiographic parameters. Subgroup analyses, followed by sensitivity tests, were then performed for variables best predicting the progression of residual LCs. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were included. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the immediate postoperative LIV-tilt angle was associated with the immediate postoperative LCs and the prediction model for residual LCs, with high accuracy ( R =0.93 and 0.77, respectively). Sensitivity tests revealed immediate postoperative LIV-tilt angle <10° and correction rate of main thoracic curve Cobb angle >53% as predictors for progression of residual LCs, and they reached moderate discrimination when combined together as one criterion (odds ratio=16.3, 95% confidence interval=5.3-50.1; sensitivity=89%, specificity=67%, positive predicted value=51%, negative predicted value=94%). CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that LIV tilt, as an operable factor during surgery, is not only a determinant in prediction models showing high correlation with the magnitude of postoperative LCs but a predictor for progression of residual LCs. "Immediate postoperative LIV-tilt angle <10° and correction rate of main thoracic curve Cobb angle >53%," as a united criterion, could serve as a predictor for progression of residual LCs.